Choosing a Digital Music Distributor

Read the interview here.

Some amazing photos from BFM Digital / KRIAN Music Group Showcase at the 2012 SXSW Festival:

http://mmusicmag.com/m/2012/03/event-photos-krian-music-groupbfm-digital-official-sxsw-music-showcase/

“Aire Libre”, the latest release from critically acclaimed Italian saxophonist Felice Clemente and noted Argentine classical guitarist, composer and arranger Javier Pérez Forte will be available digitally March 13th on Crocevia di Suoni Records. Utilizing elements of Jazz, Afro, South American and Classical music, this 10-song release is a stunning, instrumental collaboration between two celebrated artists.

“Aire Libre” is the result of Clemente and Pérez Forte’s open and free conception of music that overcomes limits, stereotypes and barriers. Inspired by a cultural diversity, the album’s variety of rhythms, and diverse instrumentation take the listener on a remarkable, global sonic journey. Throughout the “Aire Libre”, Clemente’s superb mastery of the soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone and clarinet establish intricate dialogues with the Pérez Forte’s inspired classic guitar that communicate powerful emotion without words.

“Each of the ten tracks on this CD invites us to live a different state of mind — not only because of the variety of rhythm but also because of the several colors of sounds suggested by the different instruments,” says Clemente.

On the track “A Don Agustin Bardi” — Clemente and Pérez Forte’s musical prowess creates a subtle, jazz-tinged “conversation” between sultry guitar chords and bright, spirited tenor sax that brings to mind a wise elder speaking with a young, spirited soul. The fluttering, gentle strains of tenor sax on “Chuku” soar like a butterfly lifting up the listener with their lilting progression. While the complex exchange between guitar and saxophone on “Lila,” is punctuated by the steady pulse of a metronome.

“The several compositions presented in this work do not correspond to pure musical genres. We take Jorge Luis Borges’ words and make them our own when we say, “Happily, we don’t belong to only one tradition. We can aspire to all of them,’” says Pérez Forte.

Clemente’s previous release, Nuvole di Carta, received four stars from Downbeat Magazine, stating, “Nuvole di Carta is an excellent record that demonstrates that Clemente and his peers deserve wider recognition in the United States.”

For additional information please visit: http://www.croceviadisuonirecords.com, http://www.feliceclemente.com,
http://www.javierperezforte.com

On the heels of a standing room only album-release show held at Portland’s premier jazz club Jimmy Mak’s, Naomi LaViolette prepares for the iTunes launch of her self-titled debut album, set for March 13, 2012. The album finds an acoustic niche between the worlds of folk singer-songwriter and jazz soulstress with ten original songs and fresh arrangements of George Gershwin’s “Our Love Is Here to Stay” and Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now”.

Oregon Music News wrote, “LaViolette takes a classical jazz core and braids it together with lightly poppy overtones and smooth, mystical undertones… She really shines in her original tracks that have room to breathe, such as Fragile, Somewhere New to Stand, and Ocean.”

Compared to Sarah McLachlan, LaViolette skillfully weaves her training in classical piano performance and jazz standards with a variety of folk, soul, pop and gospel creating a musical vibe that is both vintage and current. She tells stories of falling in love, and staying in love, while striking a distinctive balance between heartbreak, soul-searching and hope.

Produced and engineered by Dean Baskerville (Sheryl Crow, Everclear, Pink Martini), LaViolette fronts the album at the piano with lead and background vocals, synth creations and harmonica. Featured musicians include esteemed guitarist Tim Ellis (Craig Carothers, Aaron Meyer, Michael Allen Harrison), bassist Bill Athens (Nancy King, Mary Kadderly, Trio SubTonic) and drummer Jeramy Burchett (Dirt Poor Robins, 5 O’Clock People). Recording sessions were held at Kung Fu Bakery and Dead Aunt Thelma’s recording studios.

In addition to releasing her debut album, LaViolette recently performed her inaugural gig (Feb 24) at Portland’s 9th annual Jazz Festival. PDX Jazz Fest Managing Director Don Lucoff discovered LaViolette as she performed at Portland’s Heathman Hotel and an invitation immediately followed.

Pianist, singer-songwriter LaViolette is a Portland, Oregon native and earned a master’s degree in classical piano performance from Portland State University. She studied with Portland jazz greats including Randy Porter and Darrel Grant. LaViolette also performs in the classical music scene, as the accompanist for the Oregon Repertory Singers since 2004 and as a chamber musician in Classical Revolution PDX and the Fleur-De-Lis Piano Trio.

To preview the album, please click here

For LaViolette’s hi-res photography and full bio, please visit: http://naomilmusic.com/Naomi_LaViolette/Press.html
To review LaViolette’s album in full online, please visit: http://soundcloud.com/naomilaviolette/sets/naomilaviolette/s-zrSGN

Curtis Mayfield ranks among the most important and influential artists of the past century, the definition of soul both as leader of the Impressions and as a solo artist. As a singer and musician, his pure tone melted hearts and as a songwriter, he was peerless, a voice of African-American pride as well as a man whose insights into the ways of the heart spoke to generations.

Mayfield’s impact on artists of all persuasions is incalculable, and jazz musicians have long found much in his words and melodies to inspire new interpretations. Impressions of Curtis Mayfield is a new collection of a dozen reimaginings of some of the late, great soul man’s most potent compositions, recorded by a collective of jazz aces calling themselves the Jazz Soul Seven: Terri Lyne Carrington–-drums, Russ Ferrante—piano, the late Master Henry Gibson—percussion, Bob Hurst—bass, Wallace Roney—trumpet, Phil Upchurch—guitar, and Ernie Watts—saxophone. Each of these players is a giant in his or her own right, who brings to these timeless songs a lifetime of experience and knowledge. Produced by Brian Brinkerhoff, co-produced by Upchurch, and recorded by Andy Waterman at The Bakery in North Hollywood, California, Impressions of Curtis Mayfield forces a rethink of just how rich and durable is the catalog of Curtis Mayfield, who passed away in 1999, more than nine years after suffering a paralyzing accident that never stopped him from spreading his message.

As it says in A. Scott Galloway’s liner notes that accompany the CD, “Curtis Mayfield is a peerless prophet of American popular music, a gentle giant who walked this earth with enough third eye insight and empathy for his fellow man to tower above us all. Instead, he stood among us, an iconic artist with an unwavering sense of purpose that made a conscious choice to remain earthbound and ever accessible.”

That juxtaposition of power and empathy is palpable in such tunes as the album-opening “Freddie’s Dead,” “Amen,” “People Get Ready,” “Keep On Pushing,” “Superfly,” “I’m So Proud” and “Gypsy Woman,” the song that first put Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions on the musical map more than 50 years ago. Even sans vocals, these new takes on the Mayfield canon express vividly the beauty and honesty inherent in his work.

Writes Galloway, “As a subject for tribute and exaltation, Curtis Mayfield is undeniable.  And for a tribute steeped in the freedom and complex expressiveness of jazz, the man proved to be an unexpected natural…What better music than jazz to expand Mayfield’s messages of freedom, unity and uplift in less linear directions? In jazz, the musicians are the message! This band really would have brought a smile to Curtis’ lips.”

For More Information go to: www.bfmjazz.com

Tierney Sutton in “People Pets” of People Magazine! Read the full article here.

BFM Jazz artist The Tierney Sutton Band plays Birdland and was featured in the Wall Street Journal.

Read about it here.

BFM Jazz artist Luis Conte’s latest release, En Casa de Luis, was reviewed in All About Jazz. Read the full article here.

The 54th Grammy Nominations Tierney Sutton Band’s American Road is Makes Amazon’s “Best Jazz of 2011″ List!

BFM Digital and BFM Jazz are pleased to announce that the Tierney Sutton Band has received two Grammy nominations for “American Road.” They are nominated in the categories of “Best Jazz Vocal Album” and “Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist” for “On Broadway.” Congrats and good luck!

Read the full list of nominees here: http://www.grammy.com/nominees